FGG urges govt. to thoroughly evaluate implementation of Dalit Bandhu

The Forum for Good Governance has requested the State government to conduct a thorough evaluation of Dalit Bandhu scheme launched by the BRS government alleging that large amount of public money was squandered for political gains.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, FGG president M. Padmanabha Reddy said a huge amount of ₹3,884 crore was spent on Dalit Bandhu by the government. Action should be initiated against the persons responsible for squandering of the funds meant for financial empowerment of scheduled caste families.

He informed the Chief Minister that FGG took up evaluation of Dalit Bandhu in Vasalamarri village where it was launched on a saturation mode. It was found that as against the 52 families in the village, 75 units were grounded. More than one unit was given to some families with an estimated ₹6.5 crore deposited into the beneficiary accounts.

It was found that MLAs and their followers were involved in the selection of beneficiaries and they selected people affiliated to the party (BRS). In some cases, ₹2 to ₹3 lakh were collected by party workers to include the beneficiary’s name into the selected list. However, transport vehicles and tractors that were purchased through the scheme were sold away for throwaway prices by the beneficiaries within six months of grounding the scheme. “The FGG feels that same is the case in many villages in Telangana,” he said.

Instructions were clearly issued that beneficiaries should be given training and officials concerned should conduct field visits before grounding the scheme. But this was not done. The FGG had represented the issue of serious irregularities and wastage of public money but no action was taken in this regard.

“While introducing the scheme, the Chief Minister stated clearly that he is introducing the scheme for electoral gains,” he said without naming former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Published - May 30, 2025 08:48 pm IST